Ways to help with a new baby

Ways to Help with a New Baby

There are many ways to help with a new baby. You can rest assured that most parents appreciate even the smallest of gestures when it comes to an offer of assistance. So, why not make mom or dad's day? Follow through on any of these thoughtful suggestions. They're both easy to initiate and won't break the bank.

Don't Visit Empty-Handed

If your finances allow, never visit empty-handed. Gift mom or dad with something for the baby they really need. Yes, little outfits are adorable. But, they aren't as practical as a package of diapers or a few days worth of formula. Am I right?

On a smaller scale, consider bringing baby wipes instead. Wipes are obviously WAY less expensive than diapers and are uber-handy... in the nursery and all over the house.

Make Nap Time Possible

It's certainly no secret that the art of parenting is a joyous but tiring task. That being said, probably one of the best things you can do for your favorite new mom (or dad) is to give them the luxury of taking a well-deserved nap.

 

Give your friend or family member a "heads up" that you're on your way over specifically to babysit. Sometimes, just showing up at the door and announcing your intent will result in the the person insisting that no nap is needed.

 

Provide Meals or Cleaning Services

There aren't very many parents who wouldn't appreciate a home-cooked meal or a clean house. If you decide to prepare a meal or two, make sure to ask about any food sensitivities beforehand. They'll appreciate the gesture even further, if you include paper plates and plastic silverware. Less dishes to wash.

There are lots of ways to help with a new baby. These are just three of them. Just lending a listening ear is highly appreciated too. Remember, there's no need to spend money to be of assistance.

Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate and/or referral links. It may also include items received for review in exchange or my honest unbiased opinion. All reviews and opinions are 100% my own and unbiased.

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Fall activities for kids

Fall Activities for Kids

If you're looking for fun, fun activities for kids, there are literally hundreds of thousands to choose from. The following list includes appropriate suggestions for kids of all ages. Get ready... get set... have fun!

• Make pinecone bird feeders, simply by coating pinecones with peanut butter and covering them with bird seed. Hang them up outside near a window so you have the best view of the birds when they come to eat.
• Stuff some old clothes with newspapers or straw to make a scarecrow for the front yard. You can either set it up in an outdoor chair, or make a stand for it out of PVC pipe. Don't forget to the straw hat!
• Decorate pumpkins for Halloween or just for fall in general. You can either help your kids carve the pumpkins like a jack-o-lantern, keep them whole and paint them or glue on decorations  like acorns, sequins, leaves and glitter.
• Decorate the house for the holidays. Make fall themed decorations together out of things you find in nature to go along with your Halloween or Thanksgiving decorations.
• Make your own candles. First, melt down some old candles on the stove. Then, dip candle wicks into the wax and let it cool. Because your candle may be uneven at the bottom, make sure it’s well supported when you light it.
• Make your leftover Thanksgiving turkey into sandwiches you can eat at a backyard picnic. If you have a fire pit in your yard, you can roast some marshmallows for s’mores once the picnic is over.
• Take your kids to an apple orchard or pumpkin patch. They tend to have activities like corn mazes, hay rides and petting zoos throughout the fall season.
• Pop popcorn and have a movie night. If you subscribe to streaming service like Netflix or Hulu, finding the perfect family movies is easier than ever.
• Create apple-print pumpkins. Cut an apple in half. Dip it in orange paint and press it on to a sheet of paper. The result is a fun pumpkin shaped. Allow the paint to dry and paint on a jack-o'-lantern face

These are just a few of the zillions of ideas for fall crafts. As you can see, they're all quite affordable and are easy to accomplish. Let your kids get creative with you. You'll probably be amazed by what transpires.

Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate and/or referral links. It may also include items received for review in exchange or my honest unbiased opinion. All reviews and opinions are 100% my own and unbiased.

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Super Easy Homemade Bread

Hey y'all

So this bread below was my first foray into homemade bread. It totally gave me the courage to experiment with other options and add ins. I found the original recipe here at Gwen's Nest. I tweaked it to fit my tastes.

Baked and Sliced

It is actually a healthy "sort of" weight loss bread. It's for those mommas who want to diet but can't give up the bread. I will say I am definitely one of those mommas. So, according to Gwen, this is an E recipe on the Trim Healthy Mama plan.

This bread is AB FAB for a busy momma who wants to do something special and homemade for herself or her family. Once you make the dough, it will keep in the fridge for 14 days. I like sourdough bread so I let mine sit out on the counter lightly covered for the first 24 hours before refrigerating.

What you will need:

 A large jar 

Pizza Stone or Cookie Sheet

And some standard kitchen ingredients

Ingredients

• 3 c. warm water
• 1 ½ t table salt
• 3 c. of whole wheat flour 
• 3½ cups of unbleached
• 1½ T. instant/fast rise yeast (2 packets)
• Trim Healthy Mamas Tweaks: Go Check out Gwens Nest

Instructions

1. In a large, 5 quart container, combine all ingredients.
2. Stir with a wooden spoon until the dough is evenly wet with no dry spots.
3. Cover your container loosely, and allow to rise on the counter top for 2 hours.
4. The dough will almost triple in size and begin to collapse on itself and flatten on top.
5. Chill dough for at least three hours. You can bake it before chilling, but it’s easier to work with cold, and the flavor improves with age.

To Bake a Loaf of Bread:

1. Place a baking stone in your oven, and put a sheet of p

   

   Preparing for the oven

   
   

   
   

   archment paper on a pizza peel. An upside down baking sheet can be subbed for either the baking stone or pizza peel.
2. Wet your hands. The dough is very sticky and soft. You’ll want to treat it gently so you’ll not deflate those beautiful air pockets.
3. Cut or tear off a chunk of bread dough about the size of a large grapefruit.
4. Gently shape the dough into any shape of your choice on the parchment paper, smoothing out the top.
5. You're going to let it rise for a total of 40 minutes.
6. Preheat the oven to 450º about halfway through the bread rising.
7. Top with kosher salt or herbs/seeds if desired. Slash top to allow gasses to escape while baking.
8. When the timer goes off, slide the bread in and bake for 25 to thirty minutes until golden brown.

Enjoy!
You may use your dough up to 2 weeks past the mix date. It's normal for the dough to have tiny pinhole bubbles in the surface, and for the surface to darken a bit due to oxidation of the very top layer. It will not affect the flavor or quality of your bread.

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An Honest Bundle

People are just now realizing that what we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in our bodies. Your skin is very porous and is one of the major routes in which chemicals enter your body. This is why there has been a lot of buzz around Jessica Alba’s eco-friendly lifestyle line, The Honest Company, which offers non-toxic diapers, bath and body products, household cleaners and health and wellness products.

If you haven’t tried The Honest Company yet, you might want to start with ‘A Honest Bundle,’ which is a monthly subscription to a variety of premium, eco-friendly products delivered right to your door. Choose from bundles like ‘Diapers and Wipes’ or ‘Health and Wellness.’ You can save up to 40% off your bundle and cancel anytime.

Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate and/or referral links. It may also include items received for review in exchange or my honest unbiased opinion. All reviews and opinions are 100% my own and unbiased.

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Summer is About Pops of Color

This post was created in partnership with eAccountable. All opinions are my own.

Sometimes changing things up and giving a new fresh look to your space is as easy as adding a pop of color.

Spending time entertaining or relaxing in your outdoor area should be a huge part of your summer days and nights. And nothing enlivens that outside living space like pillows. You can change the entire look with fun, modern, graphic, bold pillows that also add that touch of flair and comfort.  Mix, match, play with color. You can’t go wrong – especially once you add family and friends.  

You can also add some beach-inspired towels to help perk up your bathroom. They’re also a beautiful addition poolside.  Wrap yourself in luxurious comfort with soft, beautiful, absorbent towels that add subtle nautical flair with stripes in muted colors.

But it’s not just about your outdoor space. A simple, breezy tablecloth with an unexpected dip dye look adds an unexpected splash of whimsy to your dining experience. Casual, yet elegant, this modern tablecloth is perfect whether you’re dining indoors or entertaining alfresco. 

These easy updates from ShopNineSpace.com have bold impact and give you that fresh, updated stylish feel that come with summer

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OAXIS Launches Smart Wellness Line on Pozible

This post was created in partnership with eAccountable. All opinions are my own.

OAXIS, an award-winning consumer technology company, has launched its OAXIS Wellness Line. Read the press release here. 

OAXIS’ body analyzer, Bluetooth water bottle, and fitness bands can be ordered now on Pozible, a crowdfunding website now and will be available for purchase at Oaxis.com in September.

The OAXIS Wellness Line aims to empower users to both make healthier choices and make them much easier, with wellness technology that easily integrates into an active lifestyle.

Enter to win products from the OAXIS Wellness Line below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: This post may include affiliate and/or referral links. It may also include items received for review in exchange or my honest unbiased opinion. All reviews and opinions are 100% my own and unbiased.

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